Portfolio: Healthcare/Education

We have extensive experience in providing exciting play spaces for learning – through – play and design proposals for provision for outdoor spaces for special needs.

Durngate, Winchester.

A new day centre for The Trinity Centre, Winchester. A Site Assessment and Survey was carried out, and there were consultations with the Architects, Ecologists, Arboriculturalist and Engineers. The site lies on an island within the river Itchen by the historic Durngate one of the six gates in the original City wall. The northern part of the island will be conserved as a nature reserve and gardens will be created for the clients and users to work in and enjoy.

SureStart Playground, Pickles Coppice, Southampton.

This playground has been designed as a learning – through – play space for 1 – 3 year olds. A 9 metre diameter soft fall area provides space for games and portable equipment. Rubberised surfacing has been used for the trike track and a water play area which contains a pop-up water tower. The trike track leads to the jungle garden, approached over a bridge to a secluded story time area. There is a playhouse with a scented garden and planters for the children behind the trellis. Carved animals and wall games by sculptor Andy Frost form part of the learning process.

Dolphin House, Havant.

This home was commissioned by Mencap and opened in June 2006. It is a purpose designed home for 12 adults with learning difficulties living in sheltered surroundings. The gardens have soft fall surfaces throughout in rubber and grass carpet. Planting includes fruit trees and herbs for scent and taste.

Paulsgrove School, North Portsmouth.

Following alterations the school needed a new main entrance to the reception area. This involved taking out part of the playground, removing steps to form a ramp and constructing a new path and drainage system to improve parents and children’s access to the school. Schoolchildren worked with sculptor Jan O’ Highway to create the tile panel which forms part of the ‘Welcome’ to the school. Shrubs including rock rose, lavender, hebe and quince were planted adjacent to the path, and a hedge of field maple was planted to separate the path from the playground.